Sheffield Eagles on the hunt for ‘diamonds’

Matt Young

Sheffield Eagles director of rugby Mark Aston says he needs to find a way to inject some fresh blood into his side as he goes in search of some much needed additions.

Injuries have taken a stranglehold on Aston’s selection policy in recent weeks, while he was damning of his side’s efforts in what was another heavy defeat at home to London at the weekend.

Whilst Aston admits that his hands are largely tied, the long-serving coach says he will be out looking to see if he can unearth something, stressing he believes he needs more leaders with senior figures such as Simon Brown, Matty James and Matty Fozard all sidelined.

“I’ve got my captain and vice-captain out. They are honest guys, good leaders and against London I didn’t see many leaders,” Aston admitted to The Star.

“We didn’t have players out there with those skills. Can I change it massively? Not really.

“These are good kids, and they will come back into contention again obviously.

“I need to find some diamonds. I don’t know where from at the minute, but I will be looking and I’ll try because if not I will end up going insane.

“If I have to fetch amateurs in then I will. At this moment all I want is to fetch good people in that want to play for Sheffield Eagles. That’s what I want to do.”

The Eagles have been decimated in the half-back positions with Cory Aston recalled from his loan by Castleford Tigers, coupled with injury to Brown who could still face another three to four weeks in the treatment room.

Aston vented his frustration that his game plan was not followed against the high-flying Broncos, giving an honest appraisal of some of his players, again questioning the desire of his depleting group.

“There are talkers and they are doers,” he added. “We have one or two talkers in there who probably aren’t respected because they talk, but they don’t deliver.

“There are two sides to a game. One is attack and the other is defence. You cannot play this game if you cannot tackle or want to tackle. We have one or two not wanting to tackle. There are some young kids in there working their socks off, but there are too many in the 17 not performing.”